Drive or Fly: Saint Charles, MO to Hamilton, MO?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for STL–MCI. At 239 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 46m

Distance

239.8 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

97 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$51

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 47m

24m in the air

Air Distance

199 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

51 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Charles, MO → STL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Hamilton, MO 73m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Saint Charles, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Hamilton, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 49 mi, ~73m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between STL and MCI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 11m

4h 31m on rail

Total Cost

$44

CO2

14 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Charles, MO → Kirkwood Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 271m

Arrival 10m

Independence Amtrak Station → Hamilton, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $44) $44

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Kirkwood Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Independence Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h 46m	3h 47m	6h 11m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$183	$44
Carbon footprint	97 kg CO₂	51 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

239.8 mi 4h 46m

via US 24; US 36; MO 110, US 61, I 70

Alternative (+5 min)

239.9 mi 4h 52m

via I 70, MO 13

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Saint Charles, MO to Hamilton, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.